CANBERRA, ACT, Nov. 10 -- The Prime Minister of Australia issued the following media release:
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER:Good afternoon. Thanks for joining us. I'm joined by the Deputy PM, Richard Marles, and the Home Affairs Minister, Tony Burke. When it comes to the generational opportunity that artificial intelligence offers Australia, I've been very clear. Our task is to make sure that we shape AI rather than AI shape us. It will have a drastic impact on the way that work occurs, on the way that we engage with each other, on the way that society functions. You can't turn it off and pretend it hasn't happened or it isn't happening, but what you can do is make sure that you shape it in Australia's interests. And that's why in July I announced we would legislate world-leading Australian standards for AI. We've seen what happened in other parts of the world without guardrails or standards. Social licence slipped while safety and security have been undermined. Australia is a first mover in this space, and we want to make sure that we continue to work so that we can reap the potential benefits from AI, boosting productivity, bolstering economic resilience, revolutionising areas such as healthcare. But we need to ensure that we get it right, and social licence is absolutely critical.
And one of the first things that we're doing here today is announcing our mandatory AI safety and security protections, which will be part of our AI legislation. As part of that, these protections will be regulated by a new targeted AI safety regulator, who will be able to enforce significant penalties for AI companies doing the wrong thing. There are six clear recommendations or mandated things to require companies to do. One, maintain security controls across all stages of development and deployment. Two, identify and manage serious risks associated with their models. Three, provide mandatory notification of incidents to the Australian Government rapidly. Four, allow independent evaluation of their models. Five, maintain and publish safety and security frameworks to ensure good governance, risk management and transparency. Six, respond to updated standards and rules as technologies change.
These protections are aligned with the interim report recommendations from the Joint Select Committee on Artificial Intelligence that we've established to try to get broad engagement with this critical issue from across the Parliament. Today also, we're releasing the recommendations of the Rapid Review into the OpenAI incident that occurred earlier this year. This incident was completely unacceptable as I outlined to OpenAI's CEO at the time, and it can't be allowed to happen again. The Rapid Review makes 18 recommendations. They include mandatory AI company reporting when it comes to misaligned behaviour or cyber incidents, consideration of reforming of criminal law in cases of serious misconduct, greater engagement with international counterparts and frontier AI developers regarding AI safety and accountability, and strengthening resilience and response to AI incidents, including improved information sharing and a renewed focus on cybersecurity. We accept all of the recommendations, and we've commenced work to implement them.
AI offers Australia and the world generational opportunities if we seize and shape them properly, and that is exactly what we're doing here. We want to take advantages while mitigating the risks which are there. We have the opportunity to position Australia as a global leader in this space and to influence how the world tackles this challenge, but also this opportunity.
RICHARD MARLES, DEPUTYPRIME MINISTER:Thank you Prime Minister. The safety and security protections that we are announcing today form part of the suite of AI standards that we will legislate, which will be fundamental to regulating this technology in Australia, but more importantly, providing confidence to Australians that this technology can be there for the benefit of them. Amongst the safety and security protections that have been announced today will form part of this regulation are ensuring that there are guardrails, security measures put in place by AI companies in respect of the AI capability where the technology which underpins those guardrails outstrips the fundamental technology of AI capability itself. And what that is, is a question of resources, which we are seeing our companies engage in today where they are investing in those guardrails given the events that have occurred this year. There needs to be greater risk management of the AI capabilities.
It's important that there is independent assessment of AI models and that those models are subjected to that independent assessment from organisations around the world, which in the case of Australia is the AI Safety Institute and that there be mandatory reporting of incidents when they occur. These are just some of the safety and security protections which are being put in place, which ensure that this incredible technology can be there for the benefit of Australians, for our national security, in fact for our sovereignty, and that this is working for Australians in that way and not the opposite. The recommendations that we are making public today of the Rapid Review into the incident involving OpenAI that we reported in September of this year represents a really important body of work in respect of the first notified incident of its kind in the world by the Australian Government. Central to those AI recommendations is the need for us to engage, engaging with frontier companies in every respect.
This is not a technology that we can run away from. If we want to maximise our agency, if we want to maximise the benefit for Australians, the way in which we can shape AI, but the way in which we can put in place protections in respect of AI, we must engage and that is at the heart of those recommendations. AI is a part of our lives today. It will only grow as a part of our lives going forward. The recommendations also highlight the need for increased coordination amongst government agencies from the Australian Signals Directorate and the Australian Cyber Security Centre, which sits within the Department of Defence, the National Office of Cybersecurity, which sits within the Department of Home Affairs and the AI Safety Institute, which sits within the Department of Industry. It also calls for a more rapid escalation of incidents through the Australian Government because what is absolutely clear is that when an incident of this kind occurs, there is a need for us to act rapidly.
Having said all of that, the report also makes clear that we have really good cybersecurity protections in place right now and that the agencies which oversee this are amongst the best in the world at what they do and Australians should have an enormous sense of confidence about that.
TONY BURKE, MINISTER FOR HOME AFFAIRS AND CYBERSECURITY:Thanks PM. Thanks Richard. Australia's cybersecurity is world leading, but we need to make sure that we've got principles that bring us up to date with artificial intelligence. Artificial intelligence doesn't of itself create vulnerabilities, but it finds them and it changes the pathway to exploiting them. It used to be the case that the timeline between finding a vulnerability and being able to exploit it was about two and a half years. With artificial intelligence, that's now down to about 10 hours. That difference means we need to make sure that our laws and our systems keep pace with the technology and also make sure that we're able to use the technology to find vulnerabilities before others do. The mandatory reporting when artificial intelligence goes rogue gives us a chance to be able to make sure that when this happens, the reporting occurs and occurs immediately.
Secondly, the concept of looking at how we can update our criminal law. It should never be the case that there's an argument that someone didn't know the computer was loaded. We need to make sure that the criminal law is up to date for how this new technology is able to act. And finally, we need to also look at the equivalent to limited use provisions. In the Cybersecurity Act, we've got these rules where when something goes wrong, the company can, without any risk to themselves, provide all the technical information as to what's happened with the cyber attack to government and know that we will only use it for that purpose. We need to look at having a similar arrangement where AI companies, if there is a vulnerability we need to be aware of, are able to provide that under similar systems. But all of this also goes back to what Richard described at the end of the power of the fundamental structures that we have, the work of the National Office of Cybersecurity, the work of the Cyber Coordinator and the way that interacts with the agencies, both within Defence and the Signals Directorate itself.
JOURNALIST:Thanks PM. On OpenAI, will OpenAI face any criminal charges or any criminal action over the incident that's been discussed here? Or would they have, under the new set of proposals that you're sharing today, on a related AI topic, obviously a lot of concern about copyright. The music industry. People like Jimmy Barnes are raising a lot of concerns about what the Government's actions on copyright might look like. Will there be any weakening of current copyright law under the AI package that you're working on?
PRIME MINISTER:Well, Jimmy Barnes needs to be clearer about his view on these things, and he shouldn't beat around the bush. What he should do is have a look at the speech that I gave in July where I made it very clear. You have here in this Prime Minister and this Arts Minister, two people who not only get great pleasure from listening to Australian music, but believe it's absolutely critical that Australian stories get told. And one of the ways that they get told is through the unique brilliance of Australian music that could only come from Australia. A band like the Chisels or Oils or INXS or Go Betweens are very Australian in how they go about. And we will make sure that, as I said there, I made clear the principles. One, that artists need to have control over their work. And secondly, that they need to be compensated if their work is used. And my position certainly hasn't changed on any of that.
JOURNALIST:Can I ask a couple of questions? First on the OpenAI - sorry, do you want to finish your question?
JOURNALIST:We can collaborate.
JOURNALIST:Yeah, all right we'll collaborate.
PRIME MINISTER:Tag team. Amalgamations in the media -
JOURNALIST:Firstly, on your Rapid Review into OpenAI, did the Rapid Review learn anything more about the consequence or depth of the breaches, indeed any more breaches than we already know? And secondly, what constraints will your new framework put around Chinese AI companies? Indeed, will they be able to operate in Australia at all?
PRIME MINISTER:The recommendations, we're adopting all of them, of the Rapid Review. And we will release the review as well. As I said at the time in New York, there are obviously some national security implications and we won't be assisting those who want to undermine. You'll get to read all of the recommendations, and you will get to see -
JOURNALIST:It wasn't the recommendations, it's what's in it. What did you find? What did they breach? Anything else?
PRIME MINISTER:You will get to see the report, as I said at the time, the clear indication is that no information was got that involves people's personal details. All of that was confirmed, essentially. So, the implications of this in fact were minor in terms of direct implications, but that doesn't mean that it wasn't a serious issue and that in other areas there might be more serious implications. So, no one's personal details, for example, were obtained. It was a pursuit of data, of how much things were used in terms of pharmaceuticals and that. No specifics.
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER:The only thing I was going to say is it was aggregated data, which we've actually since made public. So, it wasn't data which was particularly confidential.
JOURNALIST:And just on China?
PRIME MINISTER:Look, we'll deal with things appropriately. We'll work through, including our national security issues, appropriately.
JOURNALIST:It doesn't look like OpenAI actually broke any laws. Is that the case, and is that what you're seeking to change with the new measures that in the future, if this exact thing happened, would there be a way to pursue OpenAI in the courts? And are you going to release the report? Because at the moment you've just published the recommendations.
PRIME MINISTER:I just said, yes, we will release the report. Obviously, we will make sure that our national security interests are defended in that. We don't want to assist people or entities or governments that would seek to do us harm. So, we'll have a sensible approach to that, as I said, as I foreshadowed at the time. And one of the things that the recommendations do that we're releasing today is clearly saying that in future we will, as part of our national AI standards, for example, will be mandated that there's got to be proper notification.
JOURNALIST:I'm talking about the breach itself, not the notification. It seems like OpenAI by having this breach didn't in and of itself break the law.
PRIME MINISTER:What I'm saying is that if these recommendations were implemented, the point is law needs to get ahead of, and in some cases make sure that it catches up with what is a very fast changing world. And to be clear, Australia is a first mover in these areas.
JOURNALIST:You mentioned your speech in July. Your challenge, as you described it on the social licence of AI, has that been made tougher by the midterms, the results of the midterms?
PRIME MINISTER:No, I think the midterms is a reflection of what we put forward in advance in July, that unless there is social licence for these companies, then there will be a lack of community support for them. There are enormous advantages that can be got for Australia. There are enormous advantages can be got for Australia. We want to make sure we seize those advantages while mitigating the risks.
JOURNALIST:How concerned are you about the apparent undermining of your Treasurer from within government?
PRIME MINISTER:The Treasurer's doing a great job. This is a Treasurer has produced a couple of budget surpluses, lower deficits, that's producing economic reform, and we're continuing to work through with the mid-year economic forecast just in - it'll come in next month. We're continuing to work that through. I work closely with the Treasurer.
JOURNALIST:Prime Minister, you spoke about the importance of AI when it comes to national security as well as to everyone's economy. How concerned are you and what's your response to hearing that one of our Five Eyes partners has had their biggest company, Nvidia, their CEO admitting to an affair with someone accused of being a Chinese spy? And Defence Minister, have you put a 'please explain' to the Pentagon about what could have been compromised?
PRIME MINISTER:These are very serious allegations that have been made. It is appropriate that they be properly investigated. Australia is not, of course, a party to any of that directly.
JOURNALIST:Qantas is the latest company to announce job losses. Will there be answers in MYEFO about how company leaders can retain staff levels and plan for growth despite a difficult economic environment? Can we expect to see some decisive action in MYEFO? Or is your message to the business community that it will be tweaking and steady as she goes?
PRIME MINISTER:My message to the business community and indeed to all Australians is that my Government works each and every day to advance our national interest, including to protect our economic position. That means making sure we try to maximise employment. We do have the lowest average unemployment of any government over the last 50 years, something that's a source of pride, but we also work each and every day as we are here on these issues, including artificial intelligence represents an enormous opportunity and a major economic issue.
JOURNALIST:Is it sustainable for Australia to set higher standards on AI than the US does? Will they need to up their game or are we at risk of missing out on investment if we go it alone ahead of the curve?
PRIME MINISTER:No, we will protect Australia's national interests. That's what we're doing. The speech that I gave in July was ahead of that. I note I still haven't had a single question in the House of Representatives about AI, but my Government is working - what we're doing in releasing this information today, these recommendations that have been considered by the Government and adopted, we are releasing them at the first possible opportunity. This should show very clearly the work that's being undertaken.
JOURNALIST:Prime Minister, you backed the US and Israeli war on Iran on the grounds the regime should not possess a nuclear weapon. Now, that intervention has ultimately wreaked an economic world of woe across the West, across Australia. In the US, it's seen the political punishment of the Trump administration. So, do you regret being the first leader to back that intervention? Was it not foreseeable they would have this sort of economic impact?
PRIME MINISTER:No.
JOURNALIST:Prime Minister, you've invited us here kindly to talk about the report, the rapid response report. You've failed to furnish it to us before we've been able to come here and ask you questions about it, something your government does frequently. What is it? Are you afraid that if we're better informed by reading stuff, we'll ask harder questions? Why do you do this?
PRIME MINISTER:Not at all, because we're protecting our national interest of our national security. As I foreshadowed, we are releasing the recommendations for you to see in full. They've been adopted about an hour ago through our processes. I'm doing it at the first possible opportunity. I'm doing it as Prime Minister. And that's appropriate.
JOURNALIST:Have you asked your senior staff to issue advice to their colleagues to stop undermining the Treasurer? Is that something that you would also echo? Do you echo Murray Watt's comments yesterday?
PRIME MINISTER:My Government is a united government. We work together in a cohesive way. We're working together on the range of challenges, but opportunities as well, that our government faces, that the world is facing. We live in turbulent times, with a land war that continues in Europe, turbulent times with a war and conflict in the Middle East. That has had an impact on global inflation, that's had enormous impact on cost-of-living. My Government focuses each and every day on cost-of-living on how we can make a difference, and that is what my Government will continue to do.Just here. Just here. The woman who got the call - question, just here.
JOURNALIST:I just want to come back to Andrew's question on Chinese open AI models. Will the AI safety regulator be specifically mandated to consider a ban on the use of Chinese AI models in government and critical infrastructure and separate advice for private companies? And a quick one for Minister Burke. Will your department be doing a review of Australia's commercial refrigerators, given what France has alleged about the cyber hack from Iran?
MINISTER BURKE: First of all, the issue on refrigerators goes to cyber attacks on what's connected. And effectively the nature of how so much of the economy works now, including in issues like food security, is if you have a connected device, then potentially you have a hackable device. So, Europe has seen that with respect to refrigeration. My agencies never stop working through that. In terms of the first part of the question, the relevant agencies that deal with national security, which is what you're referring to, are the national security agencies. That was where you'll remember we were the first country to make decisions with respect to the use of Deepseek, for example, on government devices.
JOURNALIST:Prime Minister, is it your preference that Jim Chalmers remains Treasurer through to the next election? And secondly, the Coalition has accused you of losing your cool. Do you agree that sometimes you lose your cool?
PRIME MINISTER:No on the latter and yes on the former. Phil Hudson, have you got one? Phil's back. Phil?
JOURNALIST:You're about to head off on a trip. I think there's been a bit of controversy about whether you should go from previous people that used to go on these trips. What do you say to the Australian people who hear -
PRIME MINISTER:Even from people who came up with the idea of coffee. And you'll note, Angus Taylor, well done.
JOURNALIST:But the Australian people hear all this noise and are concerned about government and politicians of all stripes. What do you say, though, to people that see you heading overseas? What's going to be the objectives that you're going to try and get from COP, from APEC, from these meetings? Why is it important that you go and why shouldn't you stay home?
PRIME MINISTER:In Australia's interconnected world, it is absolutely in Australia's national interest that we stay engaged. So for example, in the discussions I had with the Prime Minister of the UK, one of the issues we discussed and we're working through is the issue of backpackers in Australia. And the issue that's been raised in parliament and in meetings I've had about access to the workforce that's being felt by some parts of regional Australia in particular. A practical difference that you can sit down and work through. With Canada, we talked about investment in defence and in critical minerals as well. There needs to be proper information given by us, but also reporting needs to be accurate as well. So, we continue to over the next days, and we've had, to go to the previous questions - we've just had a meeting where we've adopted these recommendations. I'm here upfront releasing the recommendations straight away. And then the meetings that we have, be it climate action, that's important not just for our environment, but we've had a reminder of the need for energy systems to be more resilient with the global disruption that's occurred with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
So there's an economic interest as well as an environmental interest, but can I also say there's a national security interest. If we're not showing that leadership with the Pacific, then there are national security implications as well that will be far more costly than any of the investments which are made. With ASEAN, it's absolutely vital that we engage with the countries in our region to the north. This is a fast growing area. We did a report through Nicholas Moore, the Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040. That's about jobs. One in four Australian jobs depends on trade. We're going to diversify our trade because one of the lessons that occurred in the last government was that the dependence on China, our major trading partner, meant that when that was disrupted, we were more vulnerable.
How do we build a resilient economy is critical, and those meetings with ASEAN in Manila will be important. As part of that, we'll have a Quad meeting between the President of the United States and the Prime Ministers of Japan, India, and Australia. That's important for our regional security as well. Then APEC, promoting trade is important. That meeting will take place in Shenzhen in China. We'll also have engagement with the leadership through bilaterals of our most important trading partner. 28 per cent of our exports go to China. This is absolutely in Australia's national interest that we support jobs and economic activity through trade, that we have a more secure Australia by engaging in security issues. Artificial intelligence will be a major topic of discussion as well. We want to do that. In each of those occasions, there will be business forums as part of ASEAN, APEC, and part of the COP. They will be about attracting investment to Australia and strengthening our economy here. That's why we engage. It can be hard work, but it's necessary work in our national interest. Thanks very much.
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
